Washington: In a significant boost to defense cooperation, the United States has announced that Qatar will establish an air force facility at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho. The new installation will accommodate Qatari F-15 fighter jets and pilots, enhancing joint training and military coordination between the two nations.

US Defense Secretary H.E. Pete Hegseth made the announcement on Friday at the Pentagon, alongside Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs H.E. Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al-Thani. “We’re signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at the Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho,” Hegseth said, highlighting that the project will improve interoperability and combat readiness.

The decision follows President Donald Trump’s recent executive order pledging to defend Qatar against external threats, a move that came in the wake of Israeli air strikes targeting Hamas leaders in Doha. The Idaho facility will join the base’s existing international presence, which already hosts a fighter jet squadron from Singapore, according to official sources.

Hegseth also praised Qatar’s “substantial role” in recent mediation efforts that led to a truce and hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, as well as its assistance in securing the release of a US citizen from Afghanistan. Sheikh Saoud, in turn, reaffirmed the “strong, enduring partnership” and “deep defense relationship” between Doha and Washington, noting that the new project marks another milestone in their long-standing military cooperation.